NCERT Solutions for Class 6 social science Chapter 11: Grassroots Democracy Part 2 Local Government in Rural Areas Class 6

What are Panchayati Raj institutions?
Answer:
Panchayati Raj Institutions are local self-government bodies in rural India, established to decentralize governance and empower local communities. They include the Gram Panchayat (village level), Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level). Panchayati Raj Institutions are responsible for local administration, development, and addressing community needs, operating under the framework provided by the Constitutional.

What are their functions?
Answer:
They handle local issues, including infrastructure, resource management and resolving disputes, ensuring community needs are met effectively.

Why are they important in governance and democracy?
Answer:
Panchayats are vital in governance and democracy because they take democracy to local level addressing local challenges and encouraging local participation of people. Panchayati Raj institutions are essential for tackling local challenges, fostering development, and ensuring that government programs and welfare schemes benefit communities at the grassroots level. It has open the doors to women’s participation at large scale and strengthened grassroot democracy.

How do you think these old maps can be helpful for us? Can they tell us something about the past and the present?
Answer:
Old maps offer insights into historical geography, showing how landscapes, boundaries, and settlements have evolved over time. They reveal past cultural, economic, and political contexts, helping us understand historical developments and their impact on the present. By comparing old and modern maps, we can trace changes and continuity in regions.

Why do you think it is important for the government to pay more attention to the needs and problems of the disadvantaged sections of society? (Page 170)
Answer:
The government should pay more attention to the needs and problems of the disadvantaged sections of society because the basic philosophy of government is to ensure that everyone lives a decent life. The poorer sections have less resources, lees education, less skills and does not get an equal chance to earn and succeed in life. The disadvantaged sections are not able to provide even basic education and healthcare to their children which further leads to their poverty.
Under such scenario it becomes the moral duty of government to take care of these people and uplift them from poverty. Government should also create conditions for their prosperity, then only India will succeed and develop.

As a class activity, let four or five students form a Bal Panchayat and the rest of the class imagine they are the villagers. What issues will the Gram Sabha discuss? What challenges could it encounter? What solutions will it propose?
Answer:
Gram Sabha can discuss following issues

What similarities and differences do you notice between the governance system at the Central level and at the Panchayat level? (Page 170)
Answer:
The governance systems at the Central level and the Panchayat level in India have both similarities and differences in their structures, functions, and roles. Here’s a detailed comparison:

If you get an opportunity to meet a few Panchayat members, what questions would you like to ask them? Discuss in small groups to create a questionnaire. Meet some Gram Panchayat members or invite them to your school. Ask them the questions in your questionnaire and write a short report.
Answer:
To create a questionnaire:

Test yourself-without looking at the text above, can you name the three-tiers of the Panchayati Raj System? What are the key functions of each of the three-tiers?
Answer:
The three-tiers of the Panchayati Raj system are Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad. The key functions of these three tiers are as follows

Write a letter to the Sarpanch regarding the issue of plastic bags lying on the roadside in the village.
Answer:
Do it yourself

In your view, what type of person should be a Gram Panchayat member?
Answer:
An ideal Gram Panchayat member should be dedicated to community welfare, possess strong leadership and communication skills, and understand local issues. They should be empathetic, honest, and willing to listen to villagers, ensuring that decisions serve the community’s best interests.

Let us suppose that you study in a village school. The school is located next to a highway, and students find it difficult to cross the road when they come to school or leave at the end of the day. What are the options to solve this issue? Which institutions in the Panchayati Raj can help you? What can the students do?
Answer:
Solutions include constructing a pedestrian overpass, installing traffic signals, or building a footpath. The Gram Panchayat can address local needs, the Panchayat Samiti can coordinate and secure funds, and the Zila Parishad can oversee district-wide planning. Students can raise awareness and participate in local meetings.